Bill aims to lure ammunition manufacturers to state

A group of House Republicans think Washington can create a lot of jobs and generate a bunch of revenue by getting makers of ammunition and firearm parts to set up shop in the state.

A bill introduced today calls on the state to “encourage the manufacture of smokeless propellant, small arms primers, cartridge cases, and small arms ammunition and firearm parts and accessories within the borders of Washington.”

By encourage, sponsors mean to assist manufacturers in locating in Washington.

“The legislature finds that both the right to bear arms and the safety and well-being of law-abiding citizens who possess firearms are at serious risk if the people cannot obtain ammunition for their firearms. A reliable, adequate, and ongoing source of ammunition is an indivisible and essential part of the right to bear arms. The people of Washington state who need small arms ammunition are almost completely dependent upon a very limited number of manufacturers of smokeless propellant, small arms primers, cartridge cases, and small arms ammunition that are located in other states.”

The bill, if it becomes law, would be named the “Washington state firearms ammunition, parts, and accessories jobs act.”